Description
Through the Door is the fourth album by the American singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer Jeff Johnson, with Sandy Simpson, independently released on his own label Ark Records in 1982. The album was written, arranged, produced, recorded, and mixed by Jeff Johnson and Sandy Simpson at The Ark in Tigard, Oregon. Songs written by Jeff Johnson (tracks: A3, A4, B1, B3) and Sandy Simpson (tracks: A1, A2, A5, B2, B5) with B4 co-written by both.
“Come with us, ladies and gentlemen who are in any wise weary of their everyday life; come with us; and those that tire at all of the world, we know for we have new worlds here.” (note printed on the back of the album sleeve)
According to Cornerstone Magazine the album features “a touch of the medieval, a dash of Cape Canaveral and a side order of Chinese poetry. Wizards, a visit with George MacDonald, and a visit to Mars… the various possible meanings will ultimately lead to the right one, which is found by answering that gentle knocking…”
This album is an album of wizards, fantasy, poetry and space in the tradition of George MacDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. At first listening, Jeff Johnson and Sandy Simpson’s ‘Through the Door’ (Ark 61930) may not seem like a Christian album. Actually, to those who like their message no deeper than the grooves, this may not seem like a Christian album at all – even after several listenings.
Johnson’s aim is to make a person think, whether he be a Christian or not. He goes out of his way to avoid the typical contemporary Christian phrasing that so often narrows the appeal of music to Christians exclusively. Jeff doesn’t give you the answers directly – he shows you where to look for them.
‘Through the Door’ is an extremely creative work, albeit somewhat ethereal. It is well recorded, and will be a delight for those with good stereo systems. As with all Ark productions, it’s pressed on 100 percent virgin vinyl. [John W. Styll, CCM, September 1982]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/through-the-door/64956606)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “The First Sleep” – 2:21
A2. “Through The Door” – 4:10
A3. “The Golden Key” – 5:09
A4. “The Morning Glory” – 3:59
A5. “Chan Fang-Sheng (Sailing Homeward)” – 5:06
Side Two
B1. “Stuck On Mars” – 3:21
B2. “The Jupieter Effect” – 6:07
B3. “Someday, Sunday” – 3:34
B4. “The Last Sleep” – 4:04
B5. “Winding Road” – 6:31
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Ark Records. Later re-issued on CD. Available at Bandcamp: https://jeffjohnsonarkmusic.bandcamp.com/album/through-the-door
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